About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Publication
Philosophical Magazine A: Physics of Condensed Matter, Structure, Defects and Mechanical Properties
Paper
In situ crystallization of amorphous silicon in the transmission electron microscope
Abstract
Amorphous Si thin films have been crystallized by in situ annealing in the transmission electron microscope. Crystallization occurred at about 700°C in electron-beam-deposited Si films, 400 Å thick, on amorphous Si3N4 substrates. Dendritic Si crystallites were observed with ⟨110⟩ and ⟨111⟩ orientations. The fast growth direction was parallel to ⟨112⟩. All crystallites were internally twinned with Σ = 3, (111) twin boundaries providing nucleation sites for atom attachment. The amorphous-crystal interface propagation was recorded on videotape to study the mechanism of crystallization. Interface velocities were measured at several temperatures and an activation energy of 3·36±0·23 eV was obtained for crystal growth. © 1993 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.